Consultants in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases; x2

Job Summary

Applications are invited for 2 new Medical Microbiology and Infectious diseases Consultant posts at the University Hospitals of Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSussex).

UHSussex is an innovative teaching trust consisting of four hospital sites; the acute tertiary centre in Brighton and district general hospitals at Chichester, Worthing and Haywards Heath. The Infectious Diseases Unit, based at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, is a Specialist Regional Infectious Diseases Centre. Microbiology services are supported by laboratories at St Richards Hospital, Chichester and ussex has close links to the Academic Department of Global Health and Infection at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, and the University of Sussex and University of Brighton.

These exciting posts have been developed to enhance collaborative working across our trust maximising the reach and expertise of our infection specialists across the region. The substantive 10 PA job plan offers 50% of time in Clinical Microbiology serving Worthing or Chichester hospital sites, and 50% covering Infectious Diseases in Brighton. We are looking for individuals who seek to embrace the opportunities offered through cooperative working across our sites to strengthen the provision of a high quality, comprehensive and efficient infection service.

Our hospitals are situated along the beautiful Sussex coast, nested against the South Downs, offering excellent transport links to London and Europe.

These posts will offer consultants breadth of opportunity in both Clinical Microbiology at our DGH (St Richard's Hospital, Chichester- SRH) and Infectious Diseases in an acute tertiary setting. The posts will involve rotational one-month periods at each site. We expect our consultants to be adaptable to the requirements of each role and to contribute to developing cross site clinical pathways thus supporting the delivery of an integrated Trust-wide Infection service.

The Microbiology Service at Worthing and SRH is provided by Consultant Microbiologists located at both sites working closely with the UKAS accredited microbiology laboratory  service has a strong emphasis on outreach and multi-disciplinary working and postholders are expected to provide timely clinical liaison. The cross-site roles of the 2 consultants will be part of a process to harmonise infection services across the whole Trust and to ensure equitable access to specialist Infection input at whatever site a patient might present.

The Infectious Diseases component, based at RSCH Brighton involves ongoing inpatient and outpatient care. The posts are intended to support service expansion, providing Infection consults and specialist oversight of patients in outlying ward areas Rapid Access Infectious Disease clinics. We are looking for applicants with the skills to work with health care professionals across divisions to promote and deliver our antimicrobial stewardship goals.

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating.

Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in.

We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level
3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

Our Infection Consultants are responsible for the provision of a high quality, comprehensive and efficient infection service which serve the hospitals and community of Sussex. We provide expertise in solving complex diagnostic problems, management of tropical and other imported infections, tuberculosis, HIV and bone and joint infections. The infection service offers a significant MDT input across the trust, which includes tuberculosis, endocarditis, OPAT, neurosurgery, cardiothoracic, vascular, haematology, renal and paediatric services and provides specialist advice in infection control, hospital epidemiology and antibiotic stewardship.

We are the hub for infection training in KSS.

The substantive 10 PA job plan will comprise 50% time in Clinical Microbiology serving the Worthing or Chichester hospital sites, and 50% time covering Infectious Diseases at the Royal Sussex County Site Brighton. The expectation of the post is rotational one-month periods subject to discussion with the successful candidates. The duties of each post are detailed below;

• Clinical Microbiology at Worthing Hospital and/or St Richards Hospital:
  Clinical duties include infection consults to review in-patients with complex infections; daily Microbiology ward rounds to review patients with bacteraemia; clinical liaison with hospital staff and GPs; contribute to multidisciplinary meetings and specialist ward rounds; ITU and HDU infection ward rounds; participation in protocol and guideline…